Highway signal



Sept. 3, 1929. D. M. KENNEDY 1,726,669

\ HIGHWAY SIGNAL Filed Aug. 10. 1920 s Sheets-Sheet 1 'sATroRlyEy Sept. 3, 1929. NNEDY HIGHWAY SIGNAL 3 ets -sheet 2 P 3 1929- D. M. KENNEDY 1,726,669

HIGHWAY SIGNAL Filed Aug. 10. 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I INYVENTOR.

' J67? Mzzzw@ BY M i I 7 fig ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 3, 1929.

UNITED STATES DEWEY m. KENNEDY, or sENEcA FALLS, NEW YORK.

HIGHWAY SIGNAL.

Application filed August 10, 1920. Serial No. 402,573.

My present invention relates to signal sys tems for the hlghway or grade crossings of railroads and it has for its object to. provide,

a simple, serviceable and dependable highway signal and operating mechanism therefor. The invention contemplates the use of a signal that is both mechanical and illuminated.

This application discloses in part the subject matter of my prior application, Serial N 0. 96,902, filed May 11, 1916, entitled Signal systems that was co-pending herewith,

but hassince resulted in Patent No. 1,349,001, dated Aug. 10, 1920. In that application I have disclosed and claimed the complete system including highway and train signals and train actuated operating devices there for. The principal subject-matter of this application is the specific highway signal applicable to that system and having features capable of usein other systems. To

these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic View of a part of the signalling system showing the manner in which my improved signal is connected up to the track actuators;

Figure 2 is a front view of a highway signal constructed in accordance with and illustrating one embodiment of my invention,

said signal being in danger position and partly bro en away and the actuating mech anism being shown in section;

Figure 3 is a detail view of parts of the actuating mechanism in another position;

Figure 4: is a similar view with the same parts in still another position; 7 Figure 5 is a plan view of the signal arm, partly broken away; Y A

Figure 6 is a partly diagrammatic sectional view taken substantially .on the line 6-6 of. Figure 2; Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view ofthe lighting circuits of the signal;

Figure 8 is a section through the light casing of the signal arm;

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a contact member on the signal arm for the lighting circuit;

Figure 10 is a similar view theparts in another position;

Figure 11 is a front view of another embodiment of the invention, the signal being at clear;

Figure 12 is a similar View with the signal set at danger; I I

Figure 13 is a vertical central section on Figure 11, and

Figure 14is a section :on the line 14 l4 of Figure 11. l

Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

In brief explanation'of the signal system of my said parent application in which the present invention is preferably used, I, provide ahighway signal embodying-an arm or paddle normally held at clear by gravity and also fitted with clear-and-danger lights, together with a train signal'a suitable dis tance down the track from the crossing normally held by gravity'at danger. There is a normally, open electricalswitch down the track that is first instantaneously closed by the train to set up a more lasting circuit through. an actuating motor for the highway signal. pAs this signal moves to danger 'posi-' tion, it closes a circuit through its" own 1 danger light. In circuit with this] light is an operating mechanism for moving the train signal to clear, the idea being thatby putting the 'highwaylight and signal in circuit and in series with the train signal, any failure of the highway signal to operate for any. reason will extend to the train signal and cause the train to proceed only with caution against its signal. In the neighborhood of the crossing is a second train ac: tu'ated and normally closed switch in the circuit established in the first instance by the,

normally open track switch. When the train reaches this second switch and opens it, the

highway signal and all other circuits! are broken and all parts returned to normal. In connection with the operating motor for the highway signal is necessarily employed a means whereby the motor is cut out of the circuit automaticallywhen it has moved the signal toa sufficient, extent. a

Referring first to Figure 1, A indicates in a conventional manner, the first normally open track switch and B the second normally closed track' switch which switches 1 may be of a construction described in my co-pending divisional application of the above mentioned "parent application; train approachi g a crossin closes the switch A and thereby aicire'int consistingof battery 1, highway signal motor 2, wire 3, switch finger 4, swltch plate 5, switch finger 6, wire 7 through a normally closed switch B wire 8, wire 9, switch A, wire 10, solenoid 11 and wire 12 back to battery. The closing of the circuit at A is for an instant only as the solenoid 11 closes the circuit by means of a magnetic switch 13 that runs 1, 2, 3,- 4, 5, 6, 7, B, 8,14, 13, 15, 11, 12 to battery which circuit remains closed independently of switch A though indirectly set up by it.

Referring now to Figure 2, the motor 2 and other parts that will be recognized from the diagrammatic showing ofFigure 1, are here shown housed within a casing 16 forming a base for a standard 17 upon which the 1 highway signal arm of paddle 18 is pivoted at 9. This signal is shown in horizontal or danger position but it is normally held rocked up to a substantially vertical clear position by a counter weight 19 on the opposite end of the arm from the signal device shown at 20. The signal as constituted by the sign boards 20 of any desired or appropriate design also comprises a central cylindricallamp box 21 inthe median vertical plane of which the sign boards are arranged so that centrally positioned spaced openings 22 arranged to be covered interiorly of the'box by a transparent ring 24, prefclosed by transparentiplates 28, as shown in Figure 8.

Between the white lights 25 and their chamber and each end glass 28 is a circularly arranged set of danger lights 29 and 30. The invention contemplates allowing the white lights 25 to burn all of the time and to close the circuit through the red lights 29 and 30 only when the signal is operated to the horizontal danger position of Figure 2 and this is done in the following manner, reference being had more particularly to Figures 5 and 7. The pivot 9 of the signal arm is fixed and carries three insulated discs 31', 32, and 33, the first two of which are provided with completely circular peripheral contacts 34 and 35 and the last of which carries only a semi-circular peripheral contact member 36. Brushes or switch contact arms 37, 38 and 39 travel on these contacts and are carried on the insulated block 40 on the signal arm. A battery 41 is connected by wires 42 and 43 to contact 34 and by a return wire 44 to contact 36. In addition to the switch finger 39 riding on the top of the disc 33 is a switch finger 45 riding on the bottom thereof, as shown in Figures 7, 9 and 10. When the signal is in the horizontal danger position of Figures 2, 7 and 9, the lighting circuits from battery 41 are set up as follows: Battery 41 to wire 42 to wire 46, to solenoid 47, wire 48, contact 35, wire 38, wire 49, danger lights 30, wire 50, switch finger 45, contact 36 and wire '44 back to battery. Part of the current divides at switchfinger 38 and goes to wire 51, the other set of danger lights 29, wire 52and joins the other danger light circuit at switch finger 45 back to battery, these circuits being in multiple. through switch finger 45 which is on contact 36 only when the switch arm is in the horizontal position of Figure 9. When the switch arm is rocked to clear position, as in Figure 10, this circuit is broken and the upper switch arm 39 moves on to contact 36. This energizes the clear or white lights through the following circuit: battery 41, wires 42 and 43 contact 34, switch finger 37,

wire 54, clear lamps 25, wire 55, switch finger 39, contact 36 and wire 44 back to battery, the white lights only being illuminated when the signal is at clear.

The solenoid 47 referred to does not enter into this clear light circuit, it will be. noticed, but does include the danger light circuit. It is a solenoid for operating a magnetic switch (not shown) calling into action certain operating devices that actuate the train signal from its normal danger position to its clear position. This signal and its connections, other than the solenoid 47, are not shown herein but are described in my said parent application and as stated there, this train signal mechanism may be the same as the hereinafter described operating mechanism of the highway signal 20.

To return to the highway signal operating mechanism as first referred to diagrammatically in Figure 1, I have stated that the motor 2 and other parts are readily recognized in the detail showing of Figure 2 within the housing 16. On the shaft of motor 2 is a pinion 56 driving a toothed disc 57 fixed to a shaft 58. Fixed on this shaft is a pinion 59 meshing with rack teeth in the lower end of a pull rod 60 connected to the signal arm 18. When the motor is set in motion, this disc 57 is rotated in a clockwise direction and through the pinion 58 draws down the signal. It is, of course, necessary that the motor be arrested as soon as the signal is down and I provide means through which it is instrumental in breaking its own circuit;

The switch plate 5 of Figure 1 is carried on the shaft 58 of Figure 2 on which it turns They both run.

freely, being normally held by a spring 61 against a stop pin 62 which establishes at this point the initial circuit described in connection with Figure 1 through contact fingers 4 and 6. As the motor reaches the end ofits work, which is the position shown in Figure 2 (but is still energized) it causes a pin 63 on the disc 57 to engage the switch plate 5 and move it in a clockwise direction. This carries a third switch finger 64, fixed as are the fingers 4 and 6, from an insulated block 65 on the switch plate 5 into electrical contact with the switch plate as progressively shown in Figures 3 and 4. This closes the circuit shown in Figure 1 in addition to the motor circuit which circuit runs through a wire 66, solenoid 67, wire 68, switch finger 64, switch plate 5, switch finger 6, wire 7 normally closed switch B, wires 8 and 14, magnetic switch 13, wire 15, solenoid 11 and wire 12 back to battery.

The solenoid 67 in this circuit is shown in Figure 2 and operates a lock 69 pivoted at 70 to a bracket 71 on the inside of the housing 16, said lock being normally held inoperative by a spring 72. When the solenoid 67 is thus energized, it operates this look, the hooked end of which takes into a notch 73 in the periphery of the disc 57 and locks the disc and signal in danger position. At the same time, it hits an incline or cam face 74 on the switch plate 5 and kicks it beyond the point to which it has been carried by the motor. This breaks the motor circuit at the switch finger 4 which finds itself in-contact with an insulating block 75 on the switch plate and the motor is deenergized. This leaves remaining, closed, only the circuit including the solenoid 67 last described to hold the lock 69 in position and prevent the return of both the switch plate 5 by its spring 61 and the disc 57 by the counterweight 19 of the signal.

This circuit is broken as the last operation by the train striking the normally closed switch B and opening it, momentarily. This is sufficient to open the magnetic switch 13 by its spring 76, its solenoid 11 being deenergized in the same circuit and the solenoid can be energized again only by the closing of switch A at the beginning of another cycle of operation.

The form of signal shown in Figure 11 et seq. comprises two oppositely turned dishshaped reflectors 77 mounted on a standard 17 and containing white lights 25 and red lights 29, the latter also being, if preferred, arranged behind red glasses 28 The white lights are exteriorly arranged about a lamp box 21 within which are the red lights 29*. The reflectors 77 contain the desired signs or notices and on the glasses 28 are preferably arranged the word Stop or a similar notice of danger, as shown in Figure 12. Above the reflectors is a staff 78 carrying a danger notice on two parallel wings 79 extending therefrom. A signal paddle 80 pivoted on a shaft 81 is normally and when the signal is at clear, concealed in an upright position between the wings 79 where it is held by counterweights 82. These counterweights also act as cover blinds for the red lights 29 which they cover when the signal arm or paddle is so cleared. When it is operated, to the danger or stop position of Figure 12 by the rod 60 pivoted thereto at 83 as in the other form, the counterweighted cover blinds 82 are raised out of position.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a highway signal fon railroad crossings, the combination with a casing or hood having a danger light therein, of a paddle, means for positively actuating said paddle to a visible danger position, and a weight for moving it to clear position, said weight alsla acting as a cover blind for the danger lig t. Y

2. In a highway signal for railroad crossings, the combination with a casing embodying a reflector having a railroad warning thereon, of a clear light arranged in the casing to illuminate said reflector and a. directly viewable danger light in the casing masked from said reflector.

DEWEY M. KENNEDY. 

